And the Eurovision Song Contest host city is...

iGap Travel Guide Newsroom

After a lengthy process to find the best place to go, it was announced today that the Austrian broadcaster ORF has chosen Vienna to host the world's biggest entertainment show in 2015.

The choice was approved by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU/EUROVISION).

"Vienna is the city of music and arts in the heart of Europe. Together we will do everything to assure a successful 60th Eurovision Song Contest." says Director General of ORF, Alexander Wrabetz.

"We are very pleased with ORF's decision to choose Vienna as the host city of the next Eurovision Song Contest," says Jon Ola Sand, Executive Supervision on behalf of the EBU. "We are confident the city has the experience, people and the facilities to host the world's foremost entertainment event. With the cooperation between Vienna, ORF and the EBU, I'm sure we'll see three amazing shows in May."

Information about ticket sales and hotel bookings is expected later this year. A large number of hotel rooms have been block booked in Vienna for delegates, journalists and fans. The list of countries represented in the 2015 contest is usually announced in early January.

ORF gave several cities the opportunity to bid to host the contest next year. In the final round, it was Vienna, Graz and Innsbruck still in the running. All candidates presented concepts for the implementation of large-scale events to ORF. Based on those, the final decision was taken.

ORF was granted the right to host the 2015 event as their participant Conchita Wurst won this year’s competition, in Copenhagen, with her entry Rise Like A Phoenix.

The Semi-Finals of the 60th Eurovision Song Contest are scheduled to take place on Tuesday 19th and Thursday 21st of May, the Final is scheduled for Saturday, the 23rd of May. In 2014, some 195 million people from over 40 countries tuned in for the 59th edition of the contest.